Round 7 (Regular Season): Al-Muharraq hand first loss to Kuwait

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Kuwaiti Kuwait (3-1) in Kuwait City on Monday night. Hosts were defeated by Bahrain Al-Muharraq (3-1) 101-96. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Kuwait. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al-Muharraq made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. Strangely Kuwait outrebounded Al-Muharraq 53-36 including a 20-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Al-Muharraq looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Bader Malabes (183-1987) who helped to win the game recording 34 points (!!!) (made all of his seven free throws). Mohamed Nasser (195-1997) contributed with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Al-Muharraq's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) answered with 28 points and 9 rebounds for Kuwait. Al-Muharraq have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with defeated Kuwait. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Qatari Al Rayyan (1-3) against fourth ranked Saudi Arabian Al Ahli (1-3) on Tuesday night. Host Al Rayyan was defeated by Al Ahli in a tough game in Doha 84-89. It was a great evening for American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Hollis Thompson helped adding 27 points. At the losing side American swingman Andrew White III (200-1993, college: Syracuse) responded with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Defending Saudi Arabian champion left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with defeated Al Rayyan. It was Al Rayyan's third loss in a row. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
An interesting game for Syrian Al Ittihad (2-2) which played road game in Baghdad against 4th placed Iraqi Al Naft (0-4). Third ranked Al Ittihad managed to get a 12-point victory 74-62. It was an exceptional evening for Jamil Saddir who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. Shane Gibson came up with 20 points for Al Naft in the defeat. Al Ittihad moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Defending Iraqi champion Al Naft still closes the standings with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 7 Sagesse lost to undefeated Gorgan on the road 68-81.

Group Gulf

Kuwait - Al-Muharraq 96-101

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Kuwaiti Kuwait (3-1) in Kuwait City on Monday night. Hosts were defeated by Bahrain Al-Muharraq (3-1) 101-96. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Kuwait. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al-Muharraq made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. Strangely Kuwait outrebounded Al-Muharraq 53-36 including a 20-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Al-Muharraq looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Bader Malabes (183-1987) who helped to win the game recording 34 points (!!!) (made all of his seven free throws). Mohamed Nasser (195-1997) contributed with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Al-Muharraq's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) answered with 28 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Tony Carr (196-1997, college: Penn St.) added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists in the effort for Kuwait. Four Al-Muharraq and five Kuwait players scored in double figures. Al-Muharraq have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with defeated Kuwait. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Al-Muharraq: B.Malabes 34+4reb+2ast, M.Nasser 25+8reb+4ast, T.Wilkerson 18+16reb+2ast, H.Ali 15+2reb+2ast, H.Ali 5+3reb+9ast, A.Nader 4+1ast
Kuwait: C.Lalanne 28+9reb+1ast, T.Carr 16+6reb+8ast, M.Adnan 14+11reb+3ast, H.Hasan 12+4reb+9ast, J.Omran 11+14reb+1ast, M.Georges-Hunt 8+3reb+1ast

Al Rayyan - Al Ahli 84-89

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Qatari Al Rayyan (1-3) against fourth ranked Saudi Arabian Al Ahli (1-3) on Tuesday night. Host Al Rayyan was defeated by Al Ahli in a tough game in Doha 84-89. It was a great evening for American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. His fellow American import Hollis Thompson (203-1991, college: Georgetown) helped adding 27 points. At the losing side American swingman Andrew White III (200-1993, college: Syracuse) responded with 24 points and 7 rebounds and forward Hamad Mousa (194-2006) scored 25 points and 5 rebounds. Five Al Ahli and four Al Rayyan players scored in double figures. Defending Saudi Arabian champion left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with defeated Al Rayyan. It was Al Rayyan's third loss in a row. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli: H.Thompson 27+4reb, M.Almuwallad 16+4reb+3ast, D.Liggins 14+9reb+8ast, A.Shubayli 13+7reb+4ast, I.Aska 12+9reb, M.Abdulrahman 4
Al Rayyan: M.Hamad 25+5reb+1ast, A.White III 24+7reb+2ast, N.Griffin 18+4reb+1ast, M.Abdelkawy 10+4reb+3ast, A.Bobo Magassa 3+3reb, M.Abdulla 2

Group West Asia

Al Naft - Al Ittihad 62-74

An interesting game for Syrian Al Ittihad (2-2) which played road game in Baghdad against 4th placed Iraqi Al Naft (0-4). Third ranked Al Ittihad managed to get a 12-point victory 74-62. It was an exceptional evening for Jamil Saddir (200-1989) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. German-Syrian power forward Mohamad Atli (203-1995) accounted for 19 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. American guard Shane Gibson (188-1990, college: Sacred Heart) came up with 20 points and the other American import forward Antwaine Wiggins (203-1988, college: Charleston) added 12 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Al Naft in the defeat. Al Ittihad moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Defending Iraqi champion Al Naft still closes the standings with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Al Ittihad: J.Saddir 23+10reb+1ast, A.Mohamad 19+10reb+3ast, K.Brown 14+8reb+4ast, H.Ahmad 7+3reb+2ast, A.Hasan 4+2reb+1ast, A.Bakar 4+1reb+2ast
Al Naft: S.Gibson 20+4reb+1ast, A.Wiggins 12+5reb+2ast, A.Al-Draisawi 11+3reb+5ast, N.Mohammed 7+5reb, C.Thomas 6+2reb+1ast, A.Hameed 6+9reb+2ast

Gorgan - Sagesse 81-68

The game between closely ranked teams ended with leader Iranian Gorgan's (4-0) home victory over their biggest opponent Lebanese Sagesse (2-2) 81-68 on Thursday. Gorgan forced 19 Sagesse turnovers. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Gorgan made 8 blocks. It was an exceptional evening for American point guard Will Cherry (185-1991, college: Montana) who led the winners and scored 21 points and 5 assists. Point guard Sina Vahedi (185-2001) accounted for 18 points and 4 assists for the winning side. Gorgan's coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. South Sudanese-Australian center Deng Acuoth (208-1996) came up with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and swingman Ahmad Ibrahim (198-1992, college: Rice) added 20 points respectively for Sagesse in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Gorgan have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending Iranian champion maintains first place with 4-0 record. Sagesse at the other side keeps the second position with two games lost. They share it with Al Ittihad. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Gorgan: W.Cherry 21+3reb+5ast, V.Sina 18+4reb+4ast, N.Rezaeifar 13+4ast, N.Pelle 12+5reb, Y.Mohammad 7+4reb, S.Monji 7+9reb
Sagesse: A.Ibrahim 20+1reb+1ast, A.Deng 13+10reb+1ast, M.Khoueiry 12+4reb+1ast, A.Abdel Massih 10+4reb+1ast, R.Slimane 7+11reb+4ast, B.Harfouch 4+6reb+1ast